Death – Obituary – Accident and Crime News : A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed by the loved ones of three Black individuals who were tragically killed in a racially-motivated shooting at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Florida back in August. The lawsuit accuses the discount chain store and the parents of the gunman, Ryan Christopher Palmeter, of negligence.
The lawsuit, which was filed in a Florida court, alleges that Dollar General failed to take proper measures to ensure the safety of its customers and employees. It also claims that the parents of the suspected gunman did not take the necessary steps to protect the public from their son’s foreseeable criminal acts.
The shooting took place at the Dollar General store on Kings Road in Jacksonville, resulting in the deaths of Jerrald De’Shaun Gallion, Angela Michelle Carr, and Anolt Joseph “AJ” Laguerre Jr. Laguerre Jr. was an employee at the store.
During a news conference, civil rights lawyer Benjamin Crump, one of the attorneys representing the victims’ relatives, expressed that Dollar General should be held accountable for their actions. He accused the company of prioritizing profits over people by failing to have a security guard on the premises during the shooting.
The lawsuit, which spans 91 pages, names Dollar General, its subsidiaries, and the contracted security company as defendants. It also includes Palmeter’s parents, Maryann and Stephen Palmeter. The lawsuit alleges that Dollar General did not provide adequate security at the targeted store, despite it being located in a high-crime area.
Authorities have stated that Palmeter went on a racially motivated killing spree, targeting innocent individuals at the Dollar General store. Palmeter ultimately died by suicide as police responded to the scene.
The lawsuit seeks to bring about change in Dollar General’s security practices. The attorney for Laguerre’s brother expressed hope that the lawsuit will prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The Dollar General shooting incident bears similarities to a previous massacre at a Tops grocery store in Buffalo, New York, where 10 Black people were fatally shot by a self-proclaimed white supremacist. However, no lawsuits were filed against Tops following the incident.
The lawsuit against Dollar General alleges that the company was aware of the high crime rate in the area and failed to take necessary precautions to prevent harm to its customers and employees. It also accuses Palmeter’s parents of negligence for not taking action to protect the public from their son’s violent tendencies.
The lawsuit includes evidence such as photos of Palmeter’s room, which reportedly contained prescription drugs, bottles of alcohol, and books on guns. The suit claims that his parents were aware of his dangerous obsession with firearms and violence.
Dollar General has stated that it does not believe there is a connection between the store conditions and the tragic events of that day. The company is cooperating with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s investigation into the incident.
The loved ones of the victims are seeking justice and hope that this lawsuit will hold Dollar General accountable for its alleged negligence, ultimately leading to safer conditions for customers and employees.